Pictured here are members of the Cranleigh Scouts Troop shifting bark chip and planting hazel hedgerow trees. 

Over the weekend we worked on the Hogs Back, Puttenham, at the western end of the North Downs. We removed about 0.035ha of dense scrub and ash trees (suffering from die-back) to make space for chalk-grassland and fruit trees. Over the next two weeks we will be planting six fruit trees, heritage varieties including five apples (Blackjack, Duchess’s Favourite, Padley’s Pippin, Scarlet Nonpareil and Sops in Wine) and a cherry (Early Rivers). The trees will be planted close to the Hogs Back Cafe, complimenting six fruit trees, planted in 2020. The area is important for its chalk grassland, but with the trees planted at 10-20m intervals next to ash die-back trees and where scrub previously grew, it will result in an increased area of chalk-grassland ... to ensure 'Right-tree, Right-place'.